Who holds Pennsylvania's public schools accountable?

A recent PennLive article asks, 'Who holds Pennsylvania's private schools accountable?' That question is easy to answer: parents. Does the author think parents keep their kids trapped in bad schools? There's a better question to ask: Who holds public schools accountable? Pennsylvania residents assume that taxpayers and the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) keep districts in line, but truthfully, neither does. Each year, PDE requires public school districts to submit their revenue and expenditure data. Yet, 18 districts failed to do so by the most recent deadline. Combined, these districts received $415 million in basic education funding this year and are slated to receive an additional $280 million in adequacy funding next year. These districts hold an additional $275 million in reserve funds. The Reading School District holds more than $102 million. Pequea Valley holds a reserve fund balance of about $32 million, which is 75 percent of its annual budget. Most egregious of all, these districts are home to 37 schools designated as the lowest-performing in Pennsylvania. Where is the accountability for students who are forced to attend low-achieving public schools simply because their ZIP code dictates their school assignment? The best solution for accountability is choice. To find the right schools, families need resources like Pennsylvania's tax-credit scholarships or the new federal tax-credit scholarship program. When we empower families with choice, they can find the right academic setting for their kids while also holding schools accountable by voting with their feet. Rachel Langan, senior education policy analyst at the Commonwealth Foundation in West Chester, Pa.